Editing Riverdale, Toronto

{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Multiple issues|{{original research|date=September 2016}}
{{more citations needed|date=September 2016}}}}
{{Infobox settlement|
|official_name          = Riverdale
|settlement_type        = Neighbourhood
|subdivision_type       = Country
|subdivision_name       = {{CAN}}
|subdivision_type1      = [[Provinces of Canada|Province]]
|subdivision_name1      = {{ON}}
|subdivision_type2      = City
|subdivision_name2      = [[Toronto]]
|image_map = Riverdale map.PNG
|coordinates            = {{coord|43.66775|-79.34961|region:CA-ON_type:city_dim:5|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|mapsize=220
|image_caption=View of Riverdale toward [[Broadview Avenue|Broadview Ave.]]<br/>from [[Queen Street, Toronto|Queen Street]] East
|image_skyline=Riverside sign, Toronto.jpg
|pushpin_map          = Canada Toronto
|pushpin_mapsize         = 220
|pushpin_map_caption        = Location within Toronto
| pushpin_label_position  = left
}}
'''Riverdale''' is a large neighbourhood in [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]], Canada. It is bounded by the [[Don River (Ontario)|Don River Valley]] to the west, [[Danforth Avenue]] and [[Greektown (Toronto)|Greektown]] to the north, Jones Avenue, the [[Canadian National|CN]]/[[GO Transit|GO]] tracks, [[Leslieville]] to the east, and [[Lake Shore Boulevard]] to the south.

==History==
[[File:Across Gerrard from the Don Jail, 2016 04 28 (2).JPG - panoramio.jpg|thumb|Hennick Bridgepoint Hospital was expanded in 2003 to include the former [[Don Jail]].]]

In 1875, the House of Refuge (later renamed Riverdale Hospital) opened at the corner of [[Broadview Avenue]] and Gerrard Street East. The hospital took on its current name [[Bridgepoint Active Healthcare]] in 2002, and later expanded to include the former [[Don Jail]] in the Bridgepoint Redevelopment project. The hospital is now called Hennick Bridgepoint Hospital and is part of Sinai Health.

The 1884 annexation of the area then called Riverside Don Mount and Leslieville an area from the Don valley on the west to Greenwood on the east, and from Danforth on the north to Queen Street on the south.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/14215916/historicTOmaps/1915-AnnexationDates.jpg|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919232709/https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/14215916/historicTOmaps/1915-AnnexationDates.jpg|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-09-19|title=Annexation Map, 1915.|date=1915|website=From Report to the Civic Transportation Committee on Radial Railway Entrances and Rapid Transit for the City of Toronto Volume II|publisher=City of Toronto|access-date=September 19, 2016}}</ref>

Riverdale is located just east of Toronto's downtown core. Since its amendment to the City of Toronto in 1884, it has developed a stature as a neighbourhood of independent arts, with several independent galleries located along Queen Street East. The residential landscape within Riverdale is made up primarily of [[Victorian architecture|Victorian]] and [[Edwardian architecture|Edwardian]] style homes, constructed in the 1800s as boarding rooms for the working-class.

==Communities within Riverdale==
[[File:Bain Avenue, Toronto.jpg|thumb|A residential area in "Upper Riverdale". Houses north of Riverdale Avenue are typically newer, and renovated compared to the homes in "Lower Riverdale".]]
"Riverdale" can refer to a smaller area or a larger area around it as well. The smaller, core area of
Riverdale refers to the stretch of Toronto east of the Don Valley Parkway and west of Jones, between Danforth Avenue (north) and Gerrard Street (south). This area is occasionally referred to as "North Riverdale" or prime Riverdale. "Riverdale" sometimes is used to refer to a much wider area that includes "South Riverdale" and less frequently areas east of Jones. This area includes many smaller communities, usually centred around a 'high street' or commercial area.

===Upper Riverdale and Lower Riverdale===
Some Riverdale residents differentiate between "upper" and "lower" Riverdale. "Upper Riverdale" is characterized as the part of the neighbourhood north of Riverdale Ave., and "Lower Riverdale" is the area south of Riverdale Ave. In terms of the quality of the housing supply, homes built in "upper Riverdale" are more likely to be renovated, but "Lower Riverdale" contains more original and classic designs of the late 19th century. There are a number of remarkable century-old homes built on Simpson and Langley Avenues, the latter street named after Toronto's well-known early 20th century architect, and the former featuring the oldest Victorian houses in Riverdale. Of note, Simpson Avenue is home to the original six houses of Riverdale; located at the west end of the street and locally known as the 'Six Sisters.'

===South Riverdale===
[[File:Broadview Hotel Toronto 2017.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Erected in 1893, [[Broadview Hotel (Toronto)|Broadview Hotel]] is located in Riverside, an area of South Riverdale.]]
"South Riverdale", as its name suggests, is the southern half of the Riverdale neighbourhood, south of Lower Riverdale. Its approximate boundaries are: the [[Don Valley Parkway]] to the west, Jones Ave. to the east, [[Gerrard Street (Toronto)|Gerrard Street East]] to the north, and [[Lake Shore Boulevard]] to the south.

South Riverdale comprises many smaller neighbourhoods:
{{anchor|Riverside}}

====Riverside====
"Riverside", also known as the "Queen Broadview Village" is a neighbourhood located within the larger neighbourhood of South Riverdale. The Riverside Business Improvement Area places the definite boundaries as running along the Don River and bordering the streets of Gerrard Street East, Empire Avenue, and Eastern Avenue.
[[File:Ralph Thornton Centre.JPG|thumb|upright|The [[Ralph Thornton Community Centre]] is a local landmark in Riverside.]]
Riverside is a mixed income and multicultural neighbourhood currently experiencing a trend of "gentrification" along Queen St. East and Broadview Ave. It had been home to the Don Destructor, a Toronto garbage incinerator which was demolished in 2004. Don Mount Court, a social housing project was recently redeveloped as a mixed social housing and market value community. The market value portion is being sold under the name Rivertowne.

Riverside is known for its many historic buildings and rich cultural heritage. The biggest landmark in the neighbourhood is the [[Broadview Hotel (Toronto)|Broadview Hotel]], a red sandstone commercial block in Romanesque style constructed in 1891–3, that was the tallest structure in South Riverdale for many decades. Other major landmarks include the [[Ralph Thornton Community Centre]],(Queen Saulter branch Toronto Public Library) [[Broadview Lofts]], and [[The Opera House (Toronto)|The Opera House]]. Riverside was also the location of [[Sunlight Park]], Toronto's first baseball stadium.

The area has a large young population, evident in the cluster of schools just east of Broadview Avenue.  Dundas Junior Public School is the resident school for children in kindergarten through to fifth grade, after which they are transferred to Queen Alexandra Sr. Public School which sees students through to eighth grade. It is also home to the First Nations School of Toronto, a cultural survival school that places heavy emphasis on aboriginal values and culture, and SEED Alternative Secondary School, Canada's first public alternative school.

Riverside is rapidly emerging as a district of independent design, furniture, and food retailers, as well as restaurants.

The southern industrial area was occupied by Lever Brothers Soap Factory from 1890s until 2009.<ref> https://spacing.ca/toronto/2017/11/20/my-grandfather-worked-here-the-unilever-soap-factory-in-photos-and-memory/</ref> The factory demolished is now waiting for redevelopment as commercial and industrial use by [[Cadillac Fairview]].

====East Chinatown====
{{main|East Chinatown, Toronto}}
[[File:Eastchina Town at Gerrard St E 2023.jpg|thumb|Toronto's second largest [[Chinatown, Toronto|Chinatown]], also known as East Chinatown, is located north of Riverside, around Broadview Avenue and [[Gerrard Street (Toronto)|Gerrard Street]].]]
Toronto's second largest Chinatown, also known as [[East Chinatown, Toronto|East Chinatown]] is found at Broadview & Gerrard. At the northernmost corner of East Chinatown (northwest corner, Broadview Avenue and [[Gerrard Street (Toronto)|Gerrard Street]]) is the Riverdale branch of the [[Toronto Public Library]]. This branch is [[Multilingualism|bilingual]] in Chinese and English. North of the library is the monument to [[Sun Yat-sen]]. Construction on the [[Paifang|Toronto Chinese Archway]] began in the western end of East Chinatown on November 24, 2008, and it opened to the public on September 12, 2009. There are only two streets with bilingual signs (English on top, Chinese on the bottom), Broadview Avenue (百樂匯街) and Gerrard Street East (芝蘭東街), and signs located three of the four corners of the intersection.

====Studio District====
The southern part of South Riverdale, just north of the [[Port Lands]], is what's called the "Studio District". Industrial warehouses along Lakeshore Avenue house production studios, and many people working in film and television live in the old Victorians found along the area's side streets. Carlaw and Queen has become an arts hub, with many artists choosing to run their studios from the various work-live lofts.

=== Blake-Jones ===
[[File:Kempton Howard Park.jpg|thumb|Kempton Howard Park is a municipal park located in Blake-Jones.]]
"Blake-Jones" is a section of tree-lined streets with residences built from the 1870s to 1930s. The neighbourhood extends along Jones Avenue commencing at the cemetery south of Strathcona and extending down to Hunter.<ref>The Globe and Mail, Friday, August 22, 2008, page G16</ref> It is bordered by [[Danforth Avenue]] to the north, Pape Avenue to the west, [[Greenwood Avenue, Toronto|Greenwood Avenue]] to the east and the [[CN Railway]] tracks just south of Riverdale/Boultbee Avenue to the south.  Houses along Blake Street are more affordable in this neighbourhood than in many areas of the city because most of the homes are [[semi-detached]]. There are also a significant number of residents within [[public housing]], residing in apartment and townhouse complex of Blake/Boultbee, owned by [[Toronto Community Housing]]. With a 33.3% unemployment rate in youth aged 15–19,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.toronto.ca/demographics/cns_profiles/2006/pdf5/cpa69.pdf |title=Neighbourhood Profile: Riverdale |date=14 July 2017 |publisher=City of Toronto}}</ref> the Blake-Jones corridor of Riverdale has seen an increase in crime in recent years.

There are two local [[elementary school]]s zoned to the area; Blake Street (which also houses East end Alternative) and Pape Avenue. The [[high school]] that is zoned to the area is [[Riverdale Collegiate Institute]].

The neighbourhood is served by the [[Pape (TTC)|Pape]], [[Donlands (TTC)|Donlands]], and [[Greenwood (TTC)|Greenwood]] subway stations and the 72 Pape and 83 Jones bus routes and is also home to the [[Greenwood Subway Yard]], a landmark within the area.

====The Pocket====
Located within Blake-Jones is an area residents refer to as "The Pocket".  Over time there have been some differences on the exact definition of the area, but currently the Pocket is understood to be "accessible only from the west along Jones Avenue".<ref>The Globe and Mail, November 17th 2006, https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/home-and-garden/real-estate/article855110.ece<nowiki/>{{Dead link|date=March 2024|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref><ref name="thestar.com">{{Cite web |last=Loriggo |first=Paola |date=March 14, 2009 |title=The Pocket forges its own unique identity |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2009/03/14/the_pocket_forges_its_own_unique_identity.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730080505/https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2009/03/14/the_pocket_forges_its_own_unique_identity.html |archive-date=July 30, 2018 |website=[[The Toronto Star]]}}</ref> This would indicate that the area would be bordered by Chatham Street at the north (which itself is not accessible from Jones, except by bicycles on the recently created bike lane), and on the southern end by Boultbee Ave.  The Eastern side is bordered by the TTC Greenwood yard. As of January 2013 the Pocket Community Association declared they served an area that is "bounded on the west by Jones Ave, on the east by Greenwood Avenue, on the north by Danforth Ave, and on the south by the railroad tracks abutting Boultbee Avenue in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 January 2013 |title=The Pocket Community Association (PCA) CONSTITUTION & BY-LAWS |url=http://www.thepocket.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/REVISED%20C%26B-L%2024%20JAN%202013%20APPROVED%20AT%20JANUARY%20AGM.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140113191307/https://www.thepocket.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/REVISED%20C%26B-L%2024%20JAN%202013%20APPROVED%20AT%20JANUARY%20AGM.pdf |archive-date=January 13, 2014 |website=thepocket.ca}}</ref> The community is served by the Pocket Community Association.
[[File:Greenwood Yard from GO Train.jpg|thumb|Located in the southeastern portion of Blake-Jones, [[Greenwood Yard]] is a [[rail yard]] with support buildings that service subway vehicles of the [[Toronto subway]] system.]]
The name "The Pocket" was created by area residents during a planning session attended by Susan McMurray, also an editor of a newsletter for the area. The name has stuck in part because of the "village feel" of the community, and has become well used by residents and realtors in the area.<ref name="Toronto Life 2012, page 30">Toronto Life, Real Estate 2012, page 30</ref> The Pocket has been experiencing a gentrification similar of that to the most of Riverdale and other neighbourhoods within Toronto. For The Pocket, this started in the 1990s. The neighbourhood is listed as one of the ten hottest areas in Toronto Life and is described as "coveted" by the Globe and Mail indicating that buyers will pay a premium to live in the community.<ref name="Toronto Life 2012, page 30"/><ref>{{Cite news |last=Yu |first=Sydnia |date=August 25, 2011 |title=A premium for The Pocket |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/home-and-garden/real-estate/done-deals/a-premium-for-the-pocket/article2141473/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903174336/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/home-and-garden/real-estate/done-deals/a-premium-for-the-pocket/article2141473/ |archive-date=September 3, 2014 |work=[[The Globe and Mail]]}}</ref> The Pocket has an above average number of people from the [[Muslim]] and [[Greek Orthodox]] communities living in the area.

The area has benefitted from a strong group of volunteers who have done much to make the area safer and prettier.<ref name="Toronto Life 2012, page 30"/>  Such projects as cleaning up and renaming Ben Kerr Lane, an annual street party on Dawson Avenue, street sales, organized pot lucks, not to mention a great number of improvements to Phin Park.  Phin Park has had a number of mature trees planted along its central lighted walkway, an outdoor ice rink created every winter, the placement of large boulders removed during street work, and the building of a gazebo next to the playground for parents to cool off while their children play.  Throughout the year there are events at the park organized and paid for by the community including monthly movie nights and an excellent fireworks show on Victoria Day.<ref name="thestar.com"/>  Another beautification project included building a small orchard and community garden area north of the Greenwood TTC yard.<ref name="Toronto Life 2012, page 30"/>

===Badgerow===
The area bounded by Dundas St. East in the south, Jones Ave. to the east, the railway tracks to the north, and Carlaw Ave. to the west is also referred to by local residents as "Badgerow", after a residential street that runs through the centre of that area. This pocket includes the legendary Maple Leaf Tavern, as well as a Sikh temple, Turkish cultural centre and Jewish cemetery, in addition to the Gerrard Square shopping mall.

==Culture==
Riverdale's character is composed primarily from its multiculturalism; with several cultural neighbourhoods along its major paths. [[Danforth Avenue]] (commonly referred to as "The Danforth" in Greek Town) has a high concentration of Greek restaurants while [[Gerrard Street (Toronto)|Gerrard Street]] East and parts of [[Broadview Avenue]] are home to a variety of Asian shops and restaurants (referred to as [[East Chinatown, Toronto|East Chinatown]]). South of Queen Street East are several large corporate [[film studio]]s extending down to the waterfront. Riverdale is home to the Gerrard Square Mall; which features a variety of retail, restaurant, and small shops. The neighbourhood's character is also defined by the [[CN Railway]], which separates the area into two districts.

==Education==
[[File:Riverdale Collegiate Institute 2023.jpg|thumb|[[Riverdale Collegiate Institute]] is a [[public education|public]] [[secondary school]] operated by the [[Toronto District School Board]].]]
There are four Toronto-based [[school board]]s that provides [[public education]] for the city, including the neighbourhood of Riverdale. Two of the four Toronto-based school boards teach primarily in [[English language|English]], the [[secular education|secular]] [[Toronto District School Board]], and the [[separate school|separate]] [[Toronto Catholic District School Board]]. The institutions operated by the other two Toronto-based school boards, the secular [[Conseil scolaire Viamonde]] (CSV), and separate [[Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir]] (CSCM), are a French [[first language]] public school board. However, CSV does not operate a school in Riverdale.

Both CSCM and TCDSB operates one public elementary school in Riverdale. CSCM operates, École élémentaire catholique du Bon-Berger, whereas TCDSB operates Holy Name Catholic School. Holy Name was founded in 1913 by the [[Sisters of St. Joseph]] with four classrooms. Eight more classrooms were added in 1918. In 1931, two more portables were installed and 8 room addition was built in 1949 totalling to 20 classrooms.  To service the ever-increasing population an annex was built in 1957 and extended in 1961 to provide a total of 31 classrooms but it was joined to the main building providing a library, a gymnasium and several more classrooms in 1968. Holy Name is a feeder school for graduates who would later attend [[St. Patrick Catholic Secondary School|St. Patrick]], [[Neil McNeil High School|Neil McNeil]] and [[Notre Dame High School (Toronto)|Notre Dame]] secondary schools, all of which are located outside Riverdale.

TDSB is the only school board that operates a [[secondary school]] in the neighbourhood, [[Riverdale Collegiate Institute]]. In addition to the secondary school, TDSB operates [[City Adult Learning Centre]], one of five Toronto District School Board adult learning centres serving the area. The building was built in 1963 as "Parkway Vocational School" as a [[vocational school]], which traces back to "Jarvis Junior Vocational School" as an extension to [[Jarvis Collegiate Institute]]. Parkway was later renamed to "Parkview Secondary School" and was closed in 1983 due to low enrolment.

In addition to secondary education, TDSB operate a number of public schools. TDSB  schools in Riverdale include:
* "Earl Grey Senior Public School" is the area's local middle school, grade 7–8.
* "Quest Alternative School"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Quest Alternative School |url=http://www.tdsb.on.ca/SchoolWeb/_site/viewitem.asp?siteid=10056&pageid=7556&menuid=8633 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307160816/http://www.tdsb.on.ca/SchoolWeb/_site/viewitem.asp?siteid=10056&pageid=7556&menuid=8633 |archive-date=March 7, 2012 |website=[[Toronto District School Board]]}}</ref> is the area's original alternative middle school, and one of the first in Toronto. Consisting of 68 students and 4 staff, Quest celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2008. The school's motto is: "Structure to learn and freedom to grow", and its focus is on student-centered learning and diverse curriculum.
* "East Alternative School of Toronto"<ref>{{Cite web |title=East Alternative School of Toronto  (Gr 07 - 08) |url=http://www.tdsb.on.ca/MOSS/asp_apps/school_landing_page/index.asp?schno=5290 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130817145507/http://www.tdsb.on.ca/schools/index.asp?schno=5290 |archive-date=August 17, 2013 |website=[[Toronto District School Board]]}}</ref> is another local alternative middle school, specializing in social justice and visual arts. It also has 68 students and accepts students from all over Toronto.
* "Withrow Avenue Junior Public School",<ref>{{cite web |last= |first= |title=Withrow Avenue Junior Public School |url=http://www.tdsb.on.ca/findyour/schools.aspx?schno=5285 |access-date=2011-09-14 |website=[[Toronto District School Board]] |publisher=}}</ref> "Jackman Avenue Junior Public School",<ref name="14/09/11">{{cite web |last= |first= |title=Jackman Avenue Junior Public School |url=http://www.tdsb.on.ca/findyour/schools.aspx?schno=5214 |website=[[Toronto District School Board]] |publisher=}}</ref> "Frankland Community School",<ref>{{cite web |last=Frankland Community School |first=Frankland Community School |title=Frankland Community School |url=http://www.tdsb.on.ca/findyour/schools.aspx?schno=5227 |access-date=23 September 2016 |work=[[Toronto District School Board]]}}</ref> and "Pape Avenue Junior Public School" are the four local junior public schools in North Riverdale.

In addition to public schooling, Riverdale is home to [[private school]]s as well. Montcrest School is located on Montcrest Boulevard and in several converted houses on Broadview Avenue just north of Riverdale Park. The school has been in operation since 1961,<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.montcrest.on.ca/index.cfm?PID=15328&PIDLIST=15323,15328 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120904180331/http://www.montcrest.on.ca/index.cfm?PID=15328&PIDLIST=15323,15328 | url-status=dead | archive-date=September 4, 2012 | title=Montcrest School History | publisher=Montcrest School }}</ref> previously operating under the name "The January School".

==Politics==
===Provincial politics===
{{main|Riverdale (electoral district)}}
Riverdale is in the provincial riding of [[Toronto—Danforth (provincial electoral district)|Toronto—Danforth]], and is currently represented in the Ontario provincial parliament by [[Peter Tabuns]], deputy leader of the [[Ontario New Democratic Party]].  Municipally, Riverdale is in Toronto Ward 30, represented by Toronto city councillor [[Paula Fletcher]]. Federally it is represented by [[Julie Dabrusin]] of the [[Liberal Party of Canada]].

Provincially, the riding was known as Riverdale from the [[1914 Ontario general election|1914 Ontario provincial election]] until the [[1999 Ontario general election|1999 Ontario provincial election]] when the number of provincial ridings were reduced and given the same borders and names as federal ridings, in this case Broadview—Greenwood and, more recently, Toronto—Danforth. In all its guises it has elected a New Democrat in every election since 1963.

In 1964 a [[by-election]] set the model for future NDP campaigns. Under the campaign management of [[Gerald Caplan]], [[Stephen Lewis]], and [[Marjorie Pinney]] the NDP canvassed every household three times, identified all their supporters, and then they [[Get out the vote|got out the vote]]. This strategy is also known as [[PIG (elections)|PIG]], ''Persuade, Identify, Get out the vote''. Lawyer [[Jim Renwick (Canadian politician)|Jim Renwick]] won with 7,287 votes compared to 5,774 votes for the Conservatives and 5,771 votes for the Liberals.

===Federal politics===
Federally the riding, known for many years as [[Broadview (federal electoral district)|Broadview]] and then [[Toronto—Danforth (federal electoral district)|Broadview—Greenwood]], has been represented by New Democrats from 1962 (the first federal election after the party was formed) until 1988, when [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]] [[Dennis Mills]] won the seat. Mills held the riding until 2004, when [[New Democratic Party of Canada|NDP]] leader [[Jack Layton]] won the seat.

==Recreation==
[[File:Toronto cyclist and skyline September 2010.jpg|thumb|View of [[Riverdale Park (Toronto)|Riverdale Park]], one of three municipal parks located in Riverdale.]]
There are three medium to large sized parks in Riverdale. At the west edge between Broadview Avenue and the Don Valley Parkway just north of Bridgepoint Health is [[Riverdale Park (Toronto)|Riverdale Park]]. This park features a running track, three baseball diamonds, a skating rink, a public swimming pool and tennis courts. Just to the east of Riverdale Park is [[Withrow Park]] which has a large off-leash dog area, an ice rink, two baseball diamonds, play structures, and a soccer field. In South Riverdale is Jimmie Simpson Park which contains tennis courts and a community centre. In the southwest corner just north of Queen St. East on Broadview Avenue is the [[Royal Canadian Curling Club]]. The curling club features six sheets and hosts leagues for about 500 members. The last park in Riverdale located further east along Blake Street is [[Kempton Howard Park]] (formerly East View Park) and was renamed in 2007 in honour of a youth worker who was killed in 2003 in the Blake/Boultbee community in which he lived and worked. Hubbard Park located next to Riverdale Library is named for [[William Peyton Hubbard]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lee-Shanok |first=Philip |date=October 22, 2016 |title=New park honours groundbreaking black Toronto politician William Peyton Hubbard |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/park-william-peyton-hubbard-1.3817224 |work=[[CBC News]]}}</ref>

These three parks serve as great landmarks within the neighbourhood that many residents use for various activities, from swimming in outdoor pools to tobogganing down the steep hills in Riverdale Park during the wintertime. These are the most common outdoor spaces within the area and according to Toronto's Official Plan, are to be preserved as an area of green space in the years to come.

==Notable roads==
[[File:De Grassi In Autumn.jpg|thumb|[[De Grassi Street]] is a notable street in "Lower" Riverdale.]]
{{col div}}
* [[Broadview Avenue]]
* [[De Grassi Street]]
* [[Eastern Avenue (Toronto)|Eastern Avenue]]
* [[Dundas Street (Toronto)|Dundas Street]] East
* [[Gerrard Street (Toronto)|Gerrard Street]] East
* [[Danforth Avenue]]
{{col div end}}

==Notable people==
{{More citations needed section|date=November 2008}}
{{col div}}
*[[Bashir Makhtal]]<ref name="friends">Friends and Family of Bashir Makhtal, [http://makhtal.org/Bio.htm Biography of Bashir Makhtal] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705104108/http://makhtal.org/Bio.htm |date=2008-07-05 }}</ref>
*[[Steven Page]]
*[[William Allen (Canadian politician)|William Allen]]
*[[John Sewell]]
*[[Tom Clifford (politician)|Tom Clifford]]
*[[Paul Christie (politician)|Paul Christie]]
*[[Derwyn Shea]]
*[[Steve Stavro]]
*[[Ying Hope]]
*[[Charles A. Walton (Toronto politician)|Charles A. Walton]]
*[[Donald Dean Summerville]]
*[[Luba Goy]]
*[[Morley Callaghan]]
*[[Desmond Morton (historian)|Desmond Morton]]
*[[Punch Imlach]]
*[[Michael Hollett]]
*[[Dennis Drainville]]
*[[Raphael Marcus]]
*[[Michael Ironside]]
*[[Bnei Akiva]]
*[[David Reville]]
*[[Melissa DiMarco]]
*[[Robert S. Kenny]]
*[[Lynne Griffin]]
*[[Paul Soles]]
*[[Christian Lander]]
*[[William Peyton Hubbard]]
*[[KO (musician)|KO]]
*[[Owen Staples]]
{{col div end}}

==See also==
*[[Streetcar suburb]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons-inline}}
{{Geographic Location
| Northwest = [[Rosedale, Toronto|Rosedale]] 
| North     = [[Playter Estates]], [[Greektown, Toronto|Greektown]]
| East      = [[East Danforth]]
| Southeast = [[Leslieville]]
| South     = [[Port Lands]]
| Southwest = [[Quayside, Toronto|Quayside]]
| West      = [[Cabbagetown, Toronto|Cabbagetown]]<br />[[Regent Park]]<br />[[Trefann Court]]<br />[[West Don Lands]]
| Center    = Riverdale
}}
{{Toronto Neighbourhoods}}
{{TorontoMunicipalities}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Chinese-Canadian culture in Toronto]]
[[Category:Neighbourhoods in Toronto]]
[[Category:Former municipalities in Toronto]]